Cincinnati Zoo gorilla Harambe killed to protect boy who fell into enclosure | Daily Mail Online Share Harambe came to Cincinnati in 2015 from the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas Authorities said the boy, who fell 10 to 12 feet, is expected to recover after being picked up out of the moat (pictured) and dragged by the 400-pound-plus male gorilla named Harambe for more than 10 minutes Hospital officials said they could not release any information on the child, whose name has not been released. Director Thane Maynard said the zoo's dangerous animal response team, which practices for such incidents, decided the boy was in 'a life-threatening situation' and that they needed to put down the gorilla. 'They made a tough choice and they made the right choice because they saved that little boy's life,' Maynard said. 'It could have been very bad.' Maynard said the gorilla did not appear to be attacking the child, but he said it was 'an extremely strong' animal in an agitated situation. The Cincinnati fire department incident report stated that the gorilla was 'violently dragging and throwing the child,' according to WLWT .

Maynard explained that tranquilizing the gorilla would not have knocked it out immediately, leaving the boy in danger. A day before Saturday's incident, the zoo had posted on its Facebook page asking the public to wish Harambe a happy 17th birthday He also noted it was the first time that the team had killed a zoo animal in such an emergency situation, and he called it 'a very sad day' at the zoo. Harambe came to Cincinnati in 2015 from the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas. According to the zoo's website, it houses 11 gorillas. The area around the gorilla exhibit was closed off on Saturday afternoon as zoo visitors reported hearing screaming. The zoo is to be open as usual on Sunday but Gorilla World will be closed until further notice. In March, two curious polar bears at the zoo wandered into a behind-the-scenes service hallway through an open den door, but never left a secondary containment area. The zoo said the 17-year-old female Berit and the 26-year-old male Little One, entered an 'inappropriate' area but remained contained and were never loose or a threat to the public.

During that incident, zoo officials said staff followed protocols and safely returned the bears to their main holding area within two hours. MOMENT APE SAVED A TINY BOY WHO FELL INTO A ZOO ENCLOSURE 30 YEARS AGO It was a story that gripped the nation - a five-year-old British boy who was knocked unconscious when he fell into a zoo's gorilla enclosure and was touchingly protected by a giant male silverback named Jambo, who stood guard as the pack of apes circled. Earlier this year, Levan Merritt shared his memories with Mail Online of that fateful day thirty years ago when iconic video footage of the incident made headlines around the world while at the Jersey Zoo, now known as Durrell Wildlife Park. On August 30 1986, Merrit and his family took a trip to a trip to the island of Jersey in the English Channel for a family holiday.

During a family holiday, Levan Merritt slipped and fell 20ft down into the gorilla pit at a zoo located on the island of Jersey in the English Channel The 7ft tall 18 stone silverback male, Jambo, peered over to look at Levan who lay motionless on the concrete In the remarkable incident that followed, Jambo stroked his back and protected him from the circling pack While at the zoo, his father lifted his brother onto his shoulders to get a better look at the majestic animals, and Merritt decided to follow suit by clambering up the wall. In the terrifying moment that followed, he slipped and fell 20 feet into the pit, snapping his arm and fracturing his skull in the process. As he lay motionless on the ground, a 7ft tall 18 stone silverback male - called Jambo - slowly approached him. As his family and a crowd of onlookers watched on in horror, Jambo reached out and gently stroked Levan's back.

Jambo then stood protectively over Levan, as he lay unconscious on the floor after the nasty fall The gorilla stood guard over Levan when he was unconscious, placing himself between the boy and the other gorillas in a protective gesture. After a nerve-jangling minute, Levan began to regain consciousness and started to cry. As his family screamed at him to remain still, his sobs caused the gorillas to retreat in panic and Jambo led them into the house in the pen. But when the gate was closing, a younger gorilla called Hobbit rushed out, at which point an ambulanceman and two keepers stepped in and rescued Levan in a dramatic escape. Rescuers then hauled Merritt up on a stretcher and he was airlifted to hospital.

Levan's family screamed at him to remain still as he started to stir - his cries scared the gorillas away Read more: Cincinnati Zoo caretaker laments killing of Harambe the gorilla | Daily Mail Online Next 'He was a gentle giant': Caretaker laments killing of Harambe the 'very intelligent' gorilla who was shot dead by zoo officials after four-year-old fell into his pen Cincinnati Zoo shot and killed the 17-year-old Harambe after the boy fell into a moat inside gorilla exhibit on Saturday Authorities said boy crawled through railing and fell about 10ft, and spent more than 10 minutes in the enclosure Jerry Stones had raised Harambe from birth up until last year in Texas Said he was a 'sweet cute little guy' with 'sharp character' Stones defended the zoo's decision because the 'child was in danger' More than 57,000 people have signed petition for parents to be punished Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney may seek charges against them Harambe the gorilla: Police to probe parents but NOT ZOO after boy fell into enclosure | World | News | Daily Express WORLD Harambe shooting: Police to probe parents but NOT ZOO after boy fell into enclosure THE parents of a four-year-old

 boy who fell into the cage of Harambe the gorilla will be investigated by police.

05:16, Wed, Jun 1, 2016 | UPDATED: 08:06, Wed, Jun 1, 2016 YOUTUBE Harambe the gorilla was shot dead at Cincinnati Zoo The 17-year-old male, weighing almost 30 stone, was killed to protect Isaiah Dickerson who climbed over the 3ft barriers and fell 12ft into the enclosure. City of Cincinnati Police confirmed parents Deonne Dickerson and Michelle Gregg could be prosecuted over the incident last Saturday. Related articles FACEBOOK Parents Deonne Dickerson and Michelle Gregg are to be investigated by the police But officers revealed they will not be investigating Cincinnati Zoo where the critically endangered western lowland gorilla was shot dead. Footage of the incident has emerged in which Ms Gregg can be heard screaming in horror as her son managed to find his way into the enclosure.

This review is only regarding the actions of the parents/family that led up to the incident City of Cincinnati Police A police statement said: "Consistent with the department policies, the Cincinnati Police Department Personal Crimes Unit is closely reviewing the facts and circumstances that led to a four-year-old boy falling into the Gorilla World enclosure at Cincinnati Zoo on Saturday May 28th, 2016. "An update will be provided as soon as possible. "This review is only regarding the actions of the parents/family that led up to the incident and not related to the operation or safety of the Cincinnati Zoo." FACEBOOK Isaiah Dickerson fell 12ft into the enclosure Furious critics have questioned why the endangered animal was shot dead amid claims the ape was protecting the toddler. A petition has received more than 100,000 signatures, with people calling for the parents to be charged with child negligence and the death of an endangered animal. Harambe the gorilla Tue, May 31, 2016 17-year-old western lowland silverback gorilla, Harambe who was shot after a four-year-old boy fell 15 feet into his enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo Gorilla World exhibit.

Harambe the gorilla [ENTERPRISE NEWS AND PICTURES] But Ms Gregg defended the incident and said “accidents happen”. She wrote: “We are quick to judge how a parent could take their eyes of their child and if anyone knows me I keep a tight watch on my kids.” Related articles “He’s grabbing my son! I can’t watch this!” 911 call released after incident with gorilla at Cincinnati Zoo | FOX6Now.com “He’s grabbing my son! I can’t watch this!” 911 call released after incident with gorilla at Cincinnati Zoo Posted 3:38 pm, June 1, 2016, by CNN Wire Service , Updated at 03:39PM, June 1, 2016 Email CINCINNATI — A 911 call from the mother whose child fell into the gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens on Saturday, May 28th has been released. Video showed the 450-pound, 17-year-old Western Lowland gorilla named Harambe dragging the boy around the enclosure before zoo personnel shot and killed the critically endangered animal after 10 minutes.

Cincinnati police released the 911 call on Wednesday, June 1st. The mother called police calculating it was the quickest route to alerting zoo authorities to rescue her son. Mother: “I need you to call (bleep). I need you to call (bleep).” Dispatcher: “Cincinnati 911 what is the…” Mother: “Hi. My son fell in the zoo at the gorillas. The Cincinnati Zoo. My son fell in with the gorilla. There’s a male gorilla standing over him. I need someone to contact the zoo please.” Dispatcher: “OK, we do already have that started. We do already have — have help started there OK? How old is…” Mother: “OK — Be calm! Be calm! Be calm! Be calm!” (This, as Harambe stands the boy up, looks him over and tugs up his pants.) Dispatcher: “How old… ” Mother: “Be calm! He’s grabbing my son! I can’t watch this! I can’t — I can’t, OK, I can’t watch.” Dispatcher: “Hello?” Dispatcher: “How old is he?

How old is he?” Mother: “I need to call my dad.” Dispatcher: “Hello?” The call cuts off 49 seconds after it started, as Harambe drags the boy briefly out of sight The toddler is said to be recovering. A spokesperson for the boy’s family has said they have no plans to sue the zoo over what happened, and they are cooperating with police. “We continue to praise God for His grace and mercy, and to be thankful to the Cincinnati Zoo for their actions taken to protect our child,” the boy’s family said Wednesday. “We are also very appreciative for the expressions of concern and support that have been sent to us. Some have offered money to the family, which we do not want and will not accept. If anyone wishes to make a gift, we recommend a donation to the Cincinnati Zoo in Harambe’s name.” The zoo has performed a necropsy on the gorilla but has not released the results. A research doctor extracted and froze the gorilla’s genetic material after his death, the zoo said. Review aimed at parents Cincinnati police said Tuesday it is reviewing the incident with a focus on the actions of the boy’s parents and family.

It is not related to the operation or safety of the Cincinnati Zoo, authorities said. “After the review, we will determine if charges need to be brought forward,” police spokeswoman Tiffaney Hardy said. “If it is determined charges need to be brought forward, we would then discuss it with the Hamilton County prosecutor’s office.” The prosecutor’s office declined to say how long the investigation might take. Authorities have said the boy’s mother was with the child when he slipped past a fence and tumbled into the moat. Critics united in grief Harambe’s name is Swahili for “come together in unity for a common cause.” And critics have rallied together against the gorilla’s killing. Uproar and vitriol has poured in, especially on social media against the boy’s mother after zoo officials killed the western lowland silverback to protect the boy. Some suggested the boy’s parents should be held criminally responsible. An online petition seeking “ Justice for Harambe ” earned more than 100,000 signatures in less than 48 hours. “This beautiful gorilla lost his life because the boy’s parents did not keep a closer watch on the child,” the petition states.

Kimberly Ann Perkins O’Connor, who saw the incident, said the boy told his mother he was going to get into the moat. The mother told her son to behave before she became distracted by other children with her, O’Connor said. “The little boy himself had already been talking about wanting to go in, go in, get in the water and his mother is like, ‘No you’re not, no you’re not,’ ” O’Connor said. “Her attention was drawn away for seconds, maybe a minute, and then he was up and in before you knew it.” Harambe ‘The child is safe’ Thane Maynard, the zoo’s director, has firmly stood by the decision to kill the gorilla. “We are all devastated that this tragic accident resulted in the death of a critically endangered gorilla,” Maynard said. However, he said, those second-guessing the call don’t understand the 450-pound animal. “That child’s life was in danger. People who question that don’t understand you can’t take a risk with a silverback gorilla — this is a dangerous animal,” he said. “Looking back, we’d make the same decision.

The child is safe.” Famed primatologist Jane Goodall’s response to the killing highlighted the conflicted nature of the decision to kill the animal. “I feel so sorry for you, having to try to defend something which you may well disapprove of,” Goodall wrote in an email to Maynard. Goodall described the killing as “a devastating loss to the zoo, and to the gorillas.” More investigations The Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which accredits zoos, announced it’s investigating the incident. “We’ll of course be … working with Cincinnati to figure out what happened and make sure we can firm that up so it doesn’t happen again,” spokesman Rob Vernon said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which inspects the zoo annually, said it will determine whether the facility was in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, a federal law that monitors the treatment of animals in research and exhibition. If not, a formal investigation would be warranted, USDA spokeswoman Tanya Espinosa said. CNN independently reviewed USDA records for the past three years, which are all that the agency maintains. It found nine instances in which the zoo was out of compliance. None involved the gorilla exhibit.

Two involving veterinary care were directly tied to the health or wellness of the animals, and seven dealt with other issues. All were resolved, according to USDA reports. Zoos, circuses and marine mammal parks are regulated under the Animal Welfare Act. Animal rights group steps in An animal rights group has requested an investigation by the USDA. Stop Animal Exploitation Now alleges the zoo violated the Animal Welfare Act, according to a letter by Executive Director Michael A. Budkie. The letter cites USDA inspection reports dated November 2014 and March. The November 6, 2014, report cites a door to an outdoor monkey enclosure had multiple wooden boards in disrepair. It also detailed deterioration in a horse enclosure. The March report documented an incident in which two polar bears got into a service hallway accessible only to zookeepers. The dangerous animal response team quickly secured the area and used tranquillizer darts to subdue the bears. Maynard, the Cincinnati Zoo director, noted a zookeeper lost her arm in the incident.

Cincinnati Zoo gorilla Harambe killed to protect boy who fell into enclosure - Newstza.com Cincinnati Zoo gorilla Harambe killed to protect boy who fell into enclosure 0 The Cincinnati Zoo shot and killed the 17-year-old gorilla after the boy fell into the gorilla exhibit moat on Saturday Authorities said the boy fell 10 to 12 feet and was inside the enclosure for more than 10 minutes The boy, who is not named, is expected to recover after being picked up out of the moat While zoo officials are still investigating, they believe the boy crawled through a railing barrier and then fell into the moat Video footage has emerged show some of the chilling moments of the time the boy was inside the enclosure During the chaotic scenes, people can be heard shouting 'No, no!' and for someone to call 911 By Myriah Towner For Dailymail.com and Associated Press Published: 00:05 GMT, 29 May 2016 | Updated: 09:41 GMT, 29 May 2016 A zoo shot and killed a 17-year-old gorilla that grabbed and dragged a four-year-old boy who fell into the gor

illa exhibit moat on Saturday afternoon, the Cincinnati Zoo's director said.

Authorities said the boy, who fell 10 to 12 feet, is expected to recover after being picked up out of the moat and dragged by the 400-pound male, lowland gorilla named Harambe. The boy was in the moat for about 10 minutes and was in between the gorilla's legs when the gorilla was shot, according to WLWT. While zoo officials are still investigating, they believe the boy crawled through a railing barrier, and then fell into the moat. Scroll down for video A special zoo response team shot and killed a 17-year-old gorilla named Harambe (pictured) that grabbed and dragged a four-year-old boy who fell into its gorilla exhibit moat, the Cincinnati Zoo's director said Video footage has emerged revealing some of the chilling moments of the time the boy was inside the moat as a panicked crowd looking on can be heard screaming as the ordeal unfolded While zoo officials are still investigating, they believe the boy crawled through a railing barrier, and then fell into the moat Zoo officials said at the time boy fell in the moat, three gorillas were in the enclosure but the two female gorillas were called out immediately.

However, a third gorilla, Harambe, remained in the yard with the child. Video footage emerged on Saturday revealing some of the chilling moments of the time the boy was inside the moat, as a panicked crowd looking on can be heard screaming as the ordeal unfolded. During the chaotic scenes, people can be heard shouting 'No, no!' and for someone to call 911. At one point a woman appearing to be the child's mother yells down, 'mommy's right here,' 'mommy loves you,' and then says 'Isaiah be calm,' as the boy can be heard crying. The graphic portions of the ordeal which apparently showed the gorilla dragging the boy through the water, were removed from the footage, according to by WLWT. The child was taken to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center with serious injuries following the incident, which was reported around 4pm. The boy was alert when he was taken to hospital, according to officials.

Harambe came to Cincinnati in 2015 from the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas Authorities said the boy, who fell 10 to 12 feet, is expected to recover after being picked up out of the moat (pictured) and dragged by the 400-pound-plus male gorilla named Harambe for more than 10 minutes Hospital officials said they could not release any information on the child, whose name has not been released. Director Thane Maynard said the zoo's dangerous animal response team, which practices for such incidents, decided the boy was in 'a life-threatening situation' and that they needed to put down the gorilla. 'They made a tough choice and they made the right choice because they saved that little boy's life,' Maynard said. 'It could have been very bad.' Maynard said the gorilla did not appear to be attacking the child, but he said it was 'an extremely strong' animal in an agitated situation. A Cincinnati fire department incident report stated that the gorilla was 'violently dragging and throwing the child,' according to WLWT. Maynard explained that tranquilizing the gorilla would not have knocked it out immediately, leaving the boy in danger.

A day before Saturday's incident, the zoo had posted on its Facebook page asking the public to wish Harambe a happy 17th birthday He also noted it was the first time that the team had killed a zoo animal in such an emergency situation, and he called it 'a very sad day' at the zoo. Harambe came to Cincinnati in 2015 from the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas. According to the zoo's website, it houses 11 gorillas. The area around the gorilla exhibit was closed off on Saturday afternoon as zoo visitors reported hearing screaming. The zoo is to be open as usual on Sunday but Gorilla World will be closed until further notice. In March, two curious polar bears at the zoo wandered into a behind-the-scenes service hallway through an open den door, but never left a secondary containment area. The zoo said the 17-year-old female Berit and the 26-year-old male Little One, entered an 'inappropriate' area but remained contained and were never loose or a threat to the public. During that incident, zoo officials said staff followed protocols and safely returned the bears to their main holding area within two hours.

MOMENT APE SAVED A TINY BOY WHO FELL INTO A ZOO ENCLOSURE 30 YEARS AGO It was a story that gripped the nation - a five-year-old British boy who was knocked unconscious when he fell into a zoo's gorilla enclosure and was touchingly protected by a giant male silverback named Jambo, who stood guard as the pack of apes circled. Earlier this year, Levan Merritt shared his memories with Mail Online of that fateful day thirty years ago when iconic video footage of the incident made headlines around the world while at the Jersey Zoo, now known as Durrell Wildlife Park. On August 30 1986, Merrit and his family took a trip to a trip to the island of Jersey in the English Channel for a family holiday.

During a family holiday, Levan Merritt slipped and fell 20ft down into the gorilla pit at a zoo located on the island of Jersey in the English Channel The 7ft tall 18 stone silverback male, Jambo, peered over to look at Levan who lay motionless on the concrete In the remarkable incident that followed, Jambo stroked his back and protected him from the circling pack While at the zoo, his father lifted his brother onto his shoulders to get a better look at the majestic animals, and Merritt decided to follow suit by clambering up the wall. In the terrifying moment that followed, he slipped and fell 20 feet into the pit, snapping his arm and fracturing his skull in the process. As he lay motionless on the ground, a 7ft tall 18 stone silverback male - called Jambo - slowly approached him. As his family and a crowd of onlookers watched on in horror, Jambo reached out and gently stroked Levan's back.

Jambo then stood protectively over Levan, as he lay unconscious on the floor after the nasty fall The gorilla stood guard over Levan when he was unconscious, placing himself between the boy and the other gorillas in a protective gesture. After a nerve-jangling minute, Levan began to regain consciousness and started to cry. As his family screamed at him to remain still, his sobs caused the gorillas to retreat in panic and Jambo led them into the house in the pen. But when the gate was closing, a younger gorilla called Hobbit rushed out, at which point and an ambulanceman and two keepers stepped in and rescued Levan in a dramatic escape. Rescuers then hauled Merritt up on a stretcher and he was airlifted to hospital. Levan's family screamed at him to remain still as he started to stir - his cries scared the gorillas away Read more: Zoo gorilla shot as boy falls into moat Zoo gorilla shot as boy falls into moat BBC News 29/05/2016 © Reuters Harambe, file pic Zoo officials have shot dead a gorilla after a four-year-old boy fell into its enclosure in the US city of Cincinnati.

The boy climbed though a barrier and fell into a moat, where he was grabbed and dragged by the gorilla. The zoo said it took action to shoot the 400lb (180kg) gorilla as the situation was "life-threatening". The boy is expected to recover. Last week two lions were shot dead in a zoo in Chile after a man entered their pen in an apparent suicide attempt. 'Devastated' Cincinnati zoo has temporarily shut its gorilla exhibit following the incident on Saturday. The boy had fallen about 10ft into the moat. Video shows the boy being dragged through the shallow moat. The gorilla then stops, with the child below him and looking up at him. In the footage shown, the gorilla makes no attempt to harm the boy. But the boy was then reportedly dragged by the 17-year-old male western lowland gorilla named Harambe for about 10 minutes. The child was taken to a local hospital and although no information about his condition has been released it is believed he will recover. Zoo director Thane Maynard said: "[The officials] made a tough choice and they made the right choice because they saved that little boy's life.

It could have been very bad." He said a tranquilliser would not have had a quick enough effect. Mr Maynard said that although the boy was not under attack, he "certainly was at risk". He added: "We are all devastated that this tragic accident resulted in the death of a critically-endangered gorilla. This is a huge loss for the zoo family and the gorilla population worldwide." Two female gorillas in the enclosure did not approach the child and were unharmed. Harambe was born in captivity in Texas and moved to Cincinnati zoo in 2014, where it was hoped he could be part of a breeding programme. Cincinnati zoo has had the largest number of western lowland gorilla births in the US. Protective © BBC Gorilla at Cincinnati zoo, 28 May In a similar incident in 1986 on the island of Jersey, a Crown dependency of the UK, a five-year-old boy fell into a gorilla enclosure. He lost consciousness and a silverback gorilla called Jambo famously stood guard over him, protecting him from other gorillas and stroking his back.

When the boy came round he started to cry and the gorillas retreated, allowing keepers to rescue the child, Levan Merritt. The western lowland subspecies inhabits west African rainforests and is the most numerous, although exact figures are not known. There are more than 500 in zoos worldwide. The shooting of the lions last week in Santiago, Chile, brought criticism from activists. Zoo officials said no fast-activating tranquillisers were available. The man had jumped into the enclosure and stripped naked. Zoo gorilla killed in US to save 4-year-old boy | Arab News Zoo gorilla killed in US to save 4-year-old boy THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Published — Tuesday 31 May 2016 CINCINNATI: Panicked zoo visitors watched helplessly and shouted, “Stay calm!” while one woman yelled, “Mommy loves you!” as a 400-pound-plus gorilla loomed over a 4-year-old boy who had fallen into a shallow moat at the Cincinnati Zoo. The boy sat still in the water, looking up at the gorilla as the animal touched the child’s hand and back.

At one point, it looked as though the gorilla helped the youngster stand up. Two witnesses said they thought the gorilla was trying to protect the boy at first before getting spooked by the screams of onlookers. The animal then picked the child up out of the moat and dragged him to another spot inside the exhibit, zoo officials said. Fearing for the boy’s life, the zoo’s dangerous-animal response team shot and killed the 17-year-old ape, named Harambe. The child, whose name was not released, was released from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center on Saturday night, hours after the fall. His family said in a statement Sunday that the boy was home and doing fine. “We extend our heartfelt thanks for the quick action by the Cincinnati Zoo staff. We know that this was a very difficult decision for them, and that they are grieving the loss of their gorilla,” the family said. Zoo Director Thane Maynard said the gorilla didn’t appear to be attacking the child but was “an extremely strong” animal in an agitated situation. He said tranquilizing the gorilla wouldn’t have knocked it out immediately, leaving the boy in danger.

“They made a tough choice and they made the right choice because they saved that little boy’s life,” Maynard said. Zoo officials said the 4-year-old climbed through a barrier at the Gorilla World exhibit and dropped 15 feet into the moat Saturday afternoon. He was in there for about 10 minutes. Two female gorillas also were in the enclosure. The two females complied with calls from zoo staff to leave the exhibit, but Harambe stayed, Maynard said. Witness Kim O’Connor said she heard the boy say he wanted to get in the water with the gorillas. She said the boy’s mother was with several other young children. “The mother’s like, ‘No, you’re not. No, you’re not,’” O’Connor told WLWT-TV. O’Connor shared video she and her family recorded of the boy and Harambe. The two appear in a corner of the exhibit while visitors yell, “Somebody call the zoo!” and “Mommy’s right here!” The station did not air portions of the video showing the gorilla dragging the boy. Another woman said that just before the boy fell, she saw him in bushes beyond a fence around the exhibit.

Vigil held at Cincinnati Zoo in tribute to slain gorilla; boy’s family releases statement | FOX6Now.com Vigil held at Cincinnati Zoo in tribute to slain gorilla; boy’s family releases statement Posted 10:40 am, May 30, 2016, by CNN Wire Service , Updated at 02:31PM, May 30, 2016 Email CINCINNATI — Zookeepers shot and killed a rare gorilla after a toddler slipped into its enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo, triggering an outcry over how the situation was handled. Footage shot by a witness shows Harambe, the 17-year-old male gorilla, standing near the boy, who went under a rail, through wires and over a moat wall to get into the enclosure, according to the zoo. The footage later shows Harambe dragging the child through the water as the clamor of the crowd grows louder and increasingly panicked. Zookeepers then shot the 450-pound western lowland gorilla with a rifle, rather than tranquilizing him. “Tranquilizers do not take effect for several minutes, and the child was in imminent danger.

On top of that, the impact from the dart could agitate the animal and cause the situation to get much worse,” Thane Maynard, director of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, said in a statement released Sunday, May 29th. “We are heartbroken about losing Harambe, but a child’s life was in danger and a quick decision had to be made.” The boy, who has not been identified, was taken to Children’s Hospital and released later Saturday evening, May 28th. The family is not granting interviews at this time, but released the following statement through a public relations firm: “We are so thankful to the Lord that our child is safe. He is home and doing just fine. We extend our heartfelt thanks for the quick action by the Cincinnati Zoo staff. We know that this was a very difficult decision for them, and that they are grieving the loss of their gorilla. We hope that you will respect our privacy at this time.” However, the boy’s brief encounter with the gorilla set off an uproar on the Internet. The zookeeper’s decision to shoot Harambe has been called into question over whether death was the only option. A vigil was held for Harambe outside the zoo Monday.

PHOTO GALLERY View Gallery (3 images) Questions over lethal shot Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered in the wild, numbering fewer than 175,000, according to the zoo. An additional 765 gorillas dwell in zoos worldwide. The family had been visiting the zoo on Saturday when the boy slipped away and entered the enclosure. Some are blaming the boy’s mother for failing to look after her son. Kimberley Ann Perkins O’Connor, who captured part of the incident on her phone, told CNN she overheard the boy joking to his mother about going into the water. Others have even suggested the boy’s parents should be held criminally responsible for the incident. An online petition seeking “Justice for Harambe” has earned more than 100,000 signatures. The petition states: “This beautiful gorilla lost his life because the boy’s parents did not keep a closer watch on the child.” In response to questions on whether charges might be brought against the boy’s parents, Lieutenant Stephen Saunders, the public information officer for Cincinnati Police says he is “not aware of any intention to charge the mother” or “the parents” at this time.

Saunders says county prosecutors will be involved in making a decision about possible charges. Others said the zoo was too quick to take the decision to shoot Harambe. Ian Redmond, chairman of The Gorilla Organization, said zookeepers had other options besides a fatal shot. “When gorilla or other apes have things they shouldn’t have, keepers will negotiate with them, bring food, their favorite treats, pineapple or some kind of fruit that they don’t know and negotiate with them,” he told CNN. “I don’t know if that was tried or people thought there was too much danger but it does seem very unfortunate that a lethal shot was required,” he said. Animal expert Jeff Corwin told CNN that tranquilizers may have taken too long. “It can take, in some situations, depending on what the medication is, it can take upward to 10 to 15 minutes. It may take multiple shots,” he said. Many reiterated that a human life was at stake — especially that of a child — and that’s more important than that of a gorilla.

Dragged by the foot Cellphone video filmed by a zoo-going member of the public, O’Connor, showed the terrifying events unfold as the child’s mother could be heard saying, “Mommy’s right here.” At first, it looked like Harambe was trying to help the boy, O’Connor told CNN. The gorilla stood him up and pulled up his pants. However, as the crowd’s clamors grew, Harambe tossed the boy into a corner of the moat before standing over him, O’Connor said. The crowd’s cries appeared to agitate Harambe anew, O’Connor said, and the video shows him grabbing the boy by the foot. He dragged him through the water and out of the moat atop the habitat, O’Connor said. Moments later, Harambe was shot and put down. Similar incidents, different endings Although it was the first incident of its kind at Cincinnati Zoo’s Gorilla World exhibit since it opened in 1978, similar dramatic cases have occurred — but with very different outcomes. In 1986, a five-year-old boy named Levan Merritt tumbled into the gorilla enclosure at Jersey Zoo in the UK.

Video filmed by a bystander showed Levan lying on the ground, bleeding from the head and unconscious. In the footage Jambo, a male gorilla, is seen approaching the boy and appears to check on him, extending a hand to stroke his back. When Merritt comes to, wailing, Jambo, seemingly startled by the cries, sets off in a different direction. Zookeepers immediately move in to save the boy. A decade later, a three-year-old boy fell nearly 20 feet into the gorilla enclosure at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. This time, a female gorilla named Binti Jua picked up the unconscious boy, while carrying her own infant on her back, and guarded him from other gorillas. In an incredible show of maternal care, Binti took him right to a door so that zookeepers could retrieve him. PETA: Captivity not acceptable Although gorillas are known to be unpredictable — not always the gentle giants the world saw in these two cases — the animal advocacy group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said it’s the larger concept of zoos existing at all that is the root of the problem.

The animal rights organization said on Twitter the tragic episode was the latest proof that “even under the ‘best’ circumstances… captivity is never acceptable for gorillas or other primates.” And others pointed out that in the end, the odds were stacked against the gorilla.

39.143044 -84.508580 Parents-of-four whose son fell into zoo enclosure sparking killing of Harambe the gorilla as it emerges father has a lengthy criminal history - including kidnap and drug trafficking - Eveyo.com Parents-of-four whose son fell into zoo enclosure sparking killing of Harambe the gorilla as it emerges father has a lengthy criminal history - including kidnap and drug trafficking Opuni must go to jail - Kennedy Agyapong Deonne Dickerson and Michelle Gregg have been heavily criticized Harambe was fatally shot after their four-year-old boy crawled past a railing and fell 15ft into the gorilla exhibit moat Harambe was shot dead after dragging the boy violently around Many have blamed the boy's parents for 17-year-old Harambe's death They released a statement on Sunday saying their boy is doing 'just fine' Zoo director said Harambe was 'disoriented' and tranquilizer would have taken too long with the possibility of agitating the animal even more Director said: 'Looking back we would make the same decision' He insisted barriers were secure, asking: 'Do you know any four-year-olds?

They can climb over anything' By Laura Collins In Cincinnati, Ohio, For Daily Mail.com Published: 19:12 EST, 30 May 2016 | Updated: 00:31 EST, 31 May 2016 9.2k shares

Question: In which American city zoo was a gorilla named Harambe shot and killed when a four year old fell into his enclosure on 28th May (2016)?
Answer: Cincinatti